Liquid transporting apparatus and piezoelectric actuator

Abstract

A liquid transporting apparatus includes a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a vibration plate covering the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer formed on a surface, of the vibration plate, not facing the pressure chamber; an electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate at a portion facing the pressure chamber; a contact point formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate; and a connecting portion formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer not facing the vibration plate and connecting the electrode and the contact point; and the connecting portion extends from the contact point and is connected to a portion, of the electrode, which is different from a nearest portion nearest to the contact point.

1. A liquid transporting apparatus which transports a liquid, comprising: a channel unit which has a liquid transporting channel through which the liquid flows, and a pressure chamber which is formed in the liquid transporting channel; a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to the liquid in the pressure chamber and which has: a vibration plate covering the pressure chamber; a piezoelectric layer formed on a surface, of the vibration plate, that is not facing the pressure chamber; an electrode, formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer, that is not facing the vibration plate at a portion facing the pressure chamber; a contact point, formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer, that is not facing the vibration plate; and a connecting portion, formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer, that is not facing the vibration plate and connecting the electrode and the contact point; and a driver IC which applies a driving voltage to the piezoelectric actuator; and a wiring member which connects the driver IC and the piezoelectric actuator, and to which the contact point is connected via an electroconductive adhesive; wherein the connecting portion extends from the contact point and is connected to a portion, of the electrode, which is different from a nearest portion nearest to the contact point; and wherein the electrode extends in a predetermined direction from the nearest portion, and the connecting portion is connected to an end portion of the electrode on a side opposite to the nearest portion. 
     
     
       2. The liquid transporting apparatus according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the connecting portion forms a bypass which has a length longer than a shortest distance between the contact point and the nearest portion. 
 
     
     
       3. The liquid transporting apparatus according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the electrode is arranged to face a central portion of the pressure chamber, and the connecting portion is arranged to face a portion, of the pressure chamber, at outside of the central portion of the pressure chamber. 
 
     
     
       4. The liquid transporting apparatus according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the electrode is arranged to face a peripheral portion of the pressure chamber, and the connecting portion is arranged to face a portion, of the pressure chamber, at inner side of the peripheral portion of the pressure chamber. 
 
     
     
       5. The liquid transporting apparatus according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the connecting portion is arranged on the piezoelectric layer at outside of a portion of the piezoelectric layer facing the pressure chamber. 
 
     
     
       6. The liquid transporting apparatus according to  claim 1 ;
 wherein the contact point, the connecting portion, and the electrode are formed of a same electroconductive material. 
 
     
     
       7. A piezoelectric actuator comprising: a vibration plate; a piezoelectric layer which is formed on one surface of the vibration plate; an electrode, formed on a surface of the piezoelectric layer, that is not facing the vibration plate; a contact point, formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer, that is not facing the vibration plate, and connected via an electroconductive adhesive to a wiring member which applies a drive voltage to the electrode; and a connecting portion, formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer, that is not facing the vibration plate, and connecting the electrode and the contact point, wherein the connecting portion extends from the contact point, and is connected to a portion, of the electrode, which is different from a nearest portion nearest to the contact point; and wherein the electrode extends in a predetermined direction from the nearest portion, and the connecting portion is connected to an end portion of the electrode on a side opposite to the nearest portion. 
     
     
       8. The piezoelectric actuator according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the connecting portion forms a bypass which has a length longer than the shortest distance between the contact point and the nearest portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The piezoelectric actuator according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the electrode is arranged to face a central portion of the pressure chamber, and the connecting portion is arranged to face a portion, of the pressure chamber, at outside of the central portion of the pressure chamber. 
 
     
     
       10. The piezoelectric actuator according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the electrode is arranged to face a peripheral portion of the pressure chamber, and the connecting portion is arranged to face a portion, of the pressure chamber, at inside of the peripheral portion of the pressure chamber. 
 
     
     
       11. The piezoelectric actuator according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the connecting portion is arranged on the piezoelectric layer at outside of a portion of the piezoelectric layer facing the pressure chamber. 
 
     
     
       12. The piezoelectric actuator according to  claim 7 ;
 wherein the contact point, the connecting portion, and the electrode are formed of a same electroconductive material.